Strategy's total holdings account for more than 3.8% of the 21 million bitcoin supply cap — worth around $61 billion.
Bitcoin fell below $74,000 after weekend gains faded, following rising US-Iran tensions after a reported cargo ship seizure and retaliation threats. The price is now moving between key levels, with $74,000 as support and $76,000–$77,000 as resistance, while traders also watch a possible CME gap and liquidity zones. Sentiment remains divided between bullish continuation and …
Ripple’s long legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission is finally over — and one major financial firm says that resolution, combined with a battered token price, may be setting up a rare entry point for XRP investors. Related Reading: Strategy Raises $1.76B War Chest As Saylor Signals Bigger Bitcoin Buy Regulatory Wins Fuel Fresh Optimism The Motley Fool, a US-based financial advisory firm, says XRP could be worth buying before 2027, pointing to two developments it believes most investors are overlooking. The firm’s report comes as XRP trades around $1.41, down 20% so far this year and more than 60% from its peak of $3.60 reached last summer. Ripple’s case with the SEC — which started in December 2020 — was settled in May 2025. A court dismissed the remaining appeals in August 2025. That outcome cleared a cloud that had followed the token for years, making it a far less risky proposition for large financial institutions that had previously stayed on the sidelines. New legislation is also taking shape. The GENIUS Act was signed into law last year. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act cleared the House in July 2025 and is still working its way through the Senate. Together, reports say these laws are beginning to lay out clearer rules for how digital assets are treated in the US. A Broader Bet Than Cross-Border Payments For years, Ripple’s main pitch to banks was straightforward: use XRP to move money across borders faster and cheaper than traditional networks like SWIFT, which has processed global transactions since 1973. That argument gained some traction but never broke through at scale. Banks, by nature, are slow to abandon systems they already trust. So Ripple changed course. Rather than staking everything on replacing one system, the company began building out a wider network of projects and partners. A key move came in June 2025 with the launch of XAO DAO, a community-run initiative designed to fund development within the XRP ecosystem. Related Reading: Bitcoin Pulls Back Below $74K As Iran Tensions Rise Again Reports indicate Ripple is also positioning its technology to support anti-fraud tools and to help move traditional financial products — like exchange-traded funds — onto blockchain networks. According to the Motley Fool, this wider approach could be exactly what large institutions need to feel comfortable getting involved. Price Drop Seen As A Window Institutional interest in XRP is growing. Data shows XRP-linked exchange-traded funds are on pace for record inflows in April 2026, pulling in $65 million so far this month alone. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
Publicly listed Bitcoin miners liquidated more than 32,000 Bitcoin during the first quarter of 2026, marking a record sell-off as the industry's largest operators redirect billions in capital toward artificial intelligence. This historic shift is unfolding precisely as the economics of Bitcoin validation reach a critical pressure point. With mining profitability hovering near cyclical lows, […]
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The Crypto Fear & Greed Index crept up two points to 29 out of 100 on Monday — its highest reading since late January — but that number still signals fear among Bitcoin investors. Related Reading: Strategy Raises $1.76B War Chest As Saylor Signals Bigger Bitcoin Buy Markets had barely settled from a rough weekend before the index was being watched again as a barometer of just how shaky confidence remains in the crypto space. That unease has a clear cause. A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, which had given financial markets a brief lift and helped keep oil prices in check, is now under serious strain. It is set to expire Wednesday. Source: Alternative.me US Military Seizure Rattles Markets The trouble started Saturday when Iran said it would shut down key oil shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz. Bitcoin, which had climbed to $78,300 on Coinbase late Friday — its strongest price since early February — quickly gave up those gains. By Saturday and into early Sunday, it had slid to between $75,000 and $76,000. Then came Sunday night. The US military opened fire on an Iranian cargo ship and later took control of it, saying the vessel had attempted to break through a US blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran called the move a ceasefire violation and vowed retaliation. Iran also pulled out of peace talks scheduled for Monday in Islamabad, Pakistan. Bitcoin dropped sharply. It briefly fell under $74,000. JUST IN: Bitcoin falls under $74,000 after Iran rejects second round of peace talks with the US. pic.twitter.com/Bxyx687J3a — Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) April 19, 2026 Stock Futures And Oil Feel The Pressure Too Crypto was not the only market caught off guard. S&P 500 futures fell 0.78% Sunday night. Nasdaq-100 futures dropped 0.6%. Dow Jones futures lost roughly 450 points, or about 0.89%. Oil moved in the opposite direction. With Iran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors for crude — oil futures surged more than 4.5%, pushing above $95 a barrel. Related Reading: Alibaba AI Model Puts XRP Price Between $7 And $42 By Year-End Ceasefire Expiry Puts Wednesday In Focus The coming days will likely determine where things head next. With Iran rejecting new negotiations and the ceasefire window closing fast, traders are watching closely. The brief rally Bitcoin enjoyed last week, built partly on hopes that US-Iran tensions were cooling, has been wiped out. At last check, Bitcoin was trading near $75,098. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
Michael Saylor has signaled that Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, may be preparing to buy more Bitcoin, reviving a pattern investors now treat as an early marker for another weekly treasury announcement. On April 19, the company’s executive chairman posted a screenshot of Strategy’s Bitcoin portfolio tracker on X with the phrase “Think Even ₿igger.” Historically, Saylor […]
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Morgan Stanley's MSBT logged a weekly net inflow of $71 million in the first full trading week since its debut.
Anthony Scaramucci and analyst Back expect Bitcoin to reach between $500,000 and $1 million this cycle. Scaramucci highlights Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million coins, saying a $1 million price would align with gold’s market value. Back points to rising ETF inflows, corporate accumulation, and growing institutional participation as key drivers. Bitcoin currently trades near …
Bitcoin price started a fresh decline from the $78,400 zone. BTC is consolidating and might struggle to stay above the $73,500 support. Bitcoin failed to stay above $76,500 and corrected gains. The price is trading below $75,500 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There is a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $75,600 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might extend losses if it stays below the $75,500 and $76,000 levels. Bitcoin Price Dips Again Bitcoin price failed to stay above the $77,500 resistance zone. BTC formed a top near $78,350 and started a fresh decline. There was a move below the $76,500 level. The price dipped below the $75,500 and $75,000 levels. A low was formed at $73,637 and the price is now consolidating losses below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $78,343 swing high to the $73,637 low. Bitcoin is now trading below $76,000 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. If the price remains stable above $73,500, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $74,750 level. The first key resistance is near the $75,500 level. There is also a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $75,600 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. A close above the $75,500 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $76,000 resistance and the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $78,343 swing high to the $73,637 low. Any more gains might send the price toward the $77,200 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $78,000. Downside Continuation In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $75,500 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $74,000 level. The first major support is near the $73,500 level. The next support is now near the $72,500 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $71,200 support in the near term. The main support now sits at $70,000, below which BTC might struggle to recover in the near term. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $74,000, followed by $73,500. Major Resistance Levels – $75,500 and $76,000.
Michael Saylor’s company has already lined up the money. Now the question is how much Bitcoin it plans to buy with it. Related Reading: Alibaba AI Model Puts XRP Price Between $7 And $42 By Year-End Saylor’s Signal Fires Up The Market Strategy’s executive chairman posted his well-known “Orange Dots” chart on X over the weekend, adding just three words: “Think even Bigger.” The chart maps every Bitcoin purchase the company has ever made. In crypto circles, its appearance has become a reliable preview of an imminent acquisition announcement — and Monday is the day Strategy most commonly makes those announcements public. The post landed after a string of major purchases. On April 13, Strategy spent $1 billion on Bitcoin. The week before that, it dropped $330 million. Both buying rounds were preceded by the same chart. This time, Saylor’s caption suggests the next move could top them both. A War Chest Already Sitting Ready The fuel for that purchase appears to already be in place. Strategy’s STRC instrument has raised enough capital to fund up to $1.76 billion in Bitcoin acquisitions, based on reports tracking the company’s fundraising activity. The company routinely uses proceeds from STRC to bankroll its Bitcoin buying program, so the timing of that capital raise lines up with the weekend post. At the time of writing, Strategy holds 780,897 Bitcoin across its corporate treasury. The company’s average purchase price sits at $75,577 per coin. At current market prices, the entire stash is valued at roughly $58 billion — a figure that would shift significantly with any large new purchase. Bitcoin Price Holds Flat Despite The News The market has not moved much on Saylor’s hint. Bitcoin was trading around $75,500, down less than 1% in the 24 hours following the post. Geopolitical pressure has been a drag on price action, with US President Donald Trump accusing Iran of violating ceasefire terms — a development that has kept risk appetite subdued across financial markets. Related Reading: XRP Expansion Into Solana Sparks Fresh Demand, Ripple CEO Says One signal watched closely by analysts did break out over the weekend, though. Bitcoin Dominance — the share of total crypto market value held by Bitcoin — pushed above a key resistance level on the three-day chart, clearing a descending trendline it had been stuck under for some time. Reports from crypto analysts indicate that if the breakout holds, more capital could rotate into Bitcoin at the expense of smaller coins. For Strategy’s playbook, that kind of market shift would not be unwelcome. Featured image from MetaAI, chart from TradingView
According to data from a recent on-chain evaluation, the Bitcoin mining sector is once again flashing warning signals, as a key industry health metric now hovers above historically critical levels. In this scenario, the Bitcoin price stands a chance to regain past grounds, but only if a specific pattern plays out. Bitcoin Miner Financial Stress Approaches Capitulation Levels Seen In Past Cycles On Saturday, April 18th, MorenoDV put out a Quicktake post on the CryptoQuant platform, revealing an ongoing dynamic shift among Bitcoin miners. The relevant indicator here is the Miner Financial Health Index 7D-SMA metric, which tracks the short-term trend of miners’ overall economic condition. Related Reading: Analyst Says Bitcoin Is Going To $170,000: Here’s When To Buy And When To Sell This metric combines four key factors – including hashprice (revenue per unit of computing power), block profitability, fee share, and total miner revenue. When these are measured together, it becomes apparent whether miners are operating in optimal conditions or are under severe stress. According to the crypto expert, the index currently displays a still-growing value of 27.7%, which is actually quite close to a historically relevant level (20%). Usually, when this metric falls to this critical 20% threshold, it indicates that mining conditions are becoming more difficult; that there is insufficient fee support, or that even rewards are declining. Interestingly, MorenoDV showed that historical data backs up this observation. Per the crypto pundit, sustained readings above this seen in the 2019, 2020, and 2022-2023 market cycles have aligned with the last stages of a capitulation phase — representing moments when weaker miners are forced out of the market. Market Bottoms May Follow Miner Capitulation, Not Peak Stress Despite the apparent risks in the current cycle, the analyst explained that the situation appears to lean more towards a recovery scenario. As previously mentioned, the Financial Health Index now sits above the historically relevant 20% mark and continues to grow higher. Typically, when this recovery above 20% occurs, it serves as a telltale sign that the “forced selling phase” is being swallowed up. MorenoDV pointed out that this is often because marginal players must have exited; network conditions have become stable — thus, the remaining miners are working in more optimal economic conditions. The crypto expert further noted that this transition often coincides with the exhaustion of bearish momentum in the Bitcoin price. Hence, if the Miner Financial Health Index is indeed transitioning, it might be important to keep an eye out for further recovery of the index. As of this writing, Bitcoin is valued at around $75,829, reflecting an almost 2% price decline since the past 24 hours. Related Reading: Bitcoin LTH Data Turns Cautious: Supply Rises, But SOPR Stays Below 1.0 Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView
Crypto traders traded more than $500 million in synthetic oil futures over the weekend on the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, betting that renewed military conflict in the Middle East could push crude prices back to $100 a barrel. The surge in blockchain-based trading followed Iran's abrupt decision to shut the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, […]
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An artificial intelligence model developed by Alibaba has projected that XRP could surpass $7 this year, with an upper estimate reaching as high as $42 — a range that would push the cryptocurrency’s total market value somewhere between $400 billion and $2.52 trillion. Related Reading: XRP Expansion Into Solana Sparks Fresh Demand, Ripple CEO Says The projection lines up with forecasts made by several human analysts who have been calling for a sharp revaluation of the asset. Regulatory Shift Seen As Turning Point US regulators appear to have drawn a clearer line in the sand. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission jointly issued a classification framework that places XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum under the category of digital commodities. The move marks a significant departure from the SEC’s earlier stance, which had treated XRP as a security — a classification that weighed heavily on the token for years. Reports indicate that many in the industry believe this shift could open the door for wider institutional participation in XRP-based products and services. Adding to that momentum, the proposed Clarity Act — if passed — is expected to further define the rules around crypto assets used in cross-border payments and financial infrastructure. XRP has long been positioned as a tool for international money transfers, and clearer rules could accelerate its adoption by banks and payment companies. Bitcoin And Ethereum Leading The Charge The XRP outlook does not exist in isolation. Analysts have tied its potential price movement to broader gains expected across the crypto market. Bitcoin is being watched closely, with some projections placing it as high as $250,000. Ethereum is also drawing attention, with forecasts built around growth in tokenization and stablecoin activity pointing toward a potential price around $10,000. Driving part of that optimism are Bitcoin exchange-traded funds launched by BlackRock and Fidelity Investments, which have attracted significant institutional money. Morgan Stanley recently added to that list with its own Bitcoin ETF, now trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Grayscale Investments’ head of research, Zach Pandl, has suggested that XRP is due for a meaningful valuation shift once regulatory conditions stabilize — a view shared by analysts who argue the token has been priced well below what its real-world use and adoption justify. Related Reading: Bitcoin, Ethereum Trading Expands As Charles Schwab Enters Crypto Market Early Movers Warned Of Closing Window Some analysts are framing the current period as a transfer of wealth from those who wait to those who act early — echoing patterns seen during earlier Bitcoin bull cycles when retail investors entered too late to capture the biggest gains. XRP is currently trading around $1.50. Featured image from MetaAI, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin price faced a rejection near the crucial resistance, plunging by 2.62% to reach close to $75,000. The rally seems to be driven by geopolitical news, as the recent gains have completely faded. The IRGC fully blocked the Strait of Hormuz again, which has intensified the selling pressure on the token. After another rejection near …
A recent on-chain analysis suggests that Bitcoin is once again showing divergence across its investor cohorts, specifically between institutional players and retail investors. According to this analysis, the Bitcoin price may have more room for growth than we have seen so far in this cycle. Related Reading: Bitcoin Breakout Confirmed, But Is It Real Or A Bull Trap? Bitcoin ETF Flows Align With Coinbase Premium Index Readings In a recent Quicktake post on the CryptoQuant platform, crypto research and education firm XWIN Research Japan delves into the dynamics of the Bitcoin market noting that a crucial structural shift is emerging. The relevant indicators in this analysis are the Total Bitcoin Spot ETF Net Inflows, the Coinbase Premium Index, and the Fear & Greed metrics. The ETF inflows measure the net amount of Bitcoin moving into or out of Spot ETFs; the Coinbase Premium tracks the price difference between Coinbase and other exchanges. According to the XWIN Research Japan, ETF Flows and the Coinbase Premium at (~0.56)are displaying a positive correlation signalling aligning inflows with spot demand. However, XWIN Research Japan points to an important distinction: institutional buying actually precedes ETF inflows, not the other way around, as is popularly believed. Hence, the rising values from Coinbase Premium which signal that US investors are buying again, and are the essential drivers of Bitcoin’s price. Related Reading: XRP Expansion Into Solana Sparks Fresh Demand, Ripple CEO Says Fear And Greed Index Reveals Persistent Retail Fear On the contrary, the analytics group notes that the Fear & Greed index is telling a less optimistic story. The experts highlight that the index remains quite low, with readings still within the range of 10-30, indicating that retailers are still outside the action. This “sidelining” of retailers might have roots in the recent losses they incurred, while institutional investors continue to accumulate due to “flow and structure.” Therefore, this behavior creates the classic “Wall of Worry” rally, in which a cryptocurrency’s price (Bitcoin, in this case) rises despite widespread market skepticism. Thus, XWIN Research Japan explains that this could ultimately mean the market is in the early or even mid phase of an “institutional-led uptrend,” in which retail participation is exempt from the factors actively driving prices. In a scenario where retail activity picks up with predominantly bullish intent, the premier cryptocurrency could be in for further upside. As of press time, Bitcoin is valued at $75,703, with CoinMarketCap data showing the world’s leading cryptocurrency has lost 2.24% of its value over the past day. Featured image from PickPik, chart from Tradingview
Charles Schwab announced this week that it will begin selling Bitcoin and Ethereum directly to its 39 million brokerage clients. They will appear in the same account view as stocks, ETFs, and retirement funds, in the same app, under the same brand, one click from the S&P 500 index fund a customer bought for their […]
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Bitcoin has confirmed a breakout from its macro downtrend on the linear chart, signaling a potential shift in broader market structure. However, with the price now sitting at a key resistance zone on the logarithmic chart, uncertainty remains. The coming sessions will be crucial in determining whether this move develops into a sustained bullish trend or a potential bull trap. Macro Breakout Signals Possible End Of Bear Cycle Historically, Bitcoin bear markets conclude once the price begins to steadily climb above the macro downtrend on linear charts. Following yesterday’s daily close, Scient notes that we have officially confirmed a breakout from this primary trendline. This shift in market structure has prompted a strategic search for high-potential setups across various altcoins. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Breaks Higher: What The Market Data Says Could Happen Next Despite the linear breakout, the question remains whether this move is a genuine trend reversal or a temporary deviation. While the linear chart shows a clear breach of resistance, the log chart tells a different story. Currently, the price is sitting exactly at a major resistance level on the logarithmic scale. The validity of this move depends heavily on how the price reacts to these overlapping levels in the coming sessions. If this move turns out to be a fakeout, the price will lose momentum quickly. In that case, Bitcoin would likely fall back below the linear resistance. To confirm true strength across both linear and log perspectives, the price needs to push into the mid-$80,000 region. Holding that level for several daily closes would effectively flip the macro structure from bearish to bullish, turning all subsequent price dips into high-conviction buying opportunities for long-term investors. The upcoming seven to ten days represent a pivotal window for Bitcoin’s medium-term trajectory and the broader market. This timeframe will determine if the current breakout can overcome the log resistance or if the market requires further consolidation. Bitcoin Nears $80,000 Target As Momentum Holds Steady According to Crypto Candy, Bitcoin is currently moving in alignment with previous projections, showing strong momentum as it nears the primary target of $80,000. The analyst notes that the asset has almost reached this milestone, and if the current buying pressure persists, the price is expected to enter the $80,000 zone shortly. Related Reading: Bitcoin Supply On Crypto Exchanges Drying Up As Accumulation Gains Steam While the upward trajectory is clear, potential short-term retracements before the final target is hit are likely. These minor pullbacks are considered natural market breathers and do not shift the broader bullish outlook. The current bullish bias remains intact as long as Bitcoin sustains its position above the $73,000 level. This price point serves as the definitive line in the sand for the current move. With this, the path toward $80,000 remains the most likely scenario for the immediate future. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitcoin seems to have finally broken out of weeks of stagnation with an 11% rally, signaling a notable shift in its market momentum. Expectedly, this move has drawn renewed attention from various market participants who may be eager to re-enter the market. However, an influential on-chain analyst has come out to explain why Bitcoin traders should be cautious during this phase of the cycle. According to the market pundit, the most optimal entry point might actually not be close to current price levels. MVRV Ratio, Realized Price Reveal Short-Term Strength, But Not Market Top In a recent Quicktake post on the CryptoQuant platform, on-chain analyst GugaOnchain delved into the reasons why it might not be time to re-enter the Bitcoin market. The pundit began by highlighting changes in the Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) Ratio, alongside that from the Realized Price metric. Related Reading: Bitwise Research Shows How Much Loss Your Bitcoin Incurs Depending On How Long You Hold According to GugaOnchain, the MVRV ratio currently sits above its 30-day moving average of 1.2947, indicating that Bitcoin’s recent upward price movement has gained validity. Supporting this trend, the Bitcoin Taker Buy/Sell Ratio on Binance has also shown increased buying aggression, reinforcing the notion that market participants are actively pushing prices higher. Meanwhile, the bigger macroeconomic picture shows that the market is yet to enter an overheated phase. This is because the current MVRV reading around 1.3856 is significantly lower than the SMA-365 (known as the macro line), which stands at around 1.8620. Technical Indicators Signal Overextended Bitcoin Market — Correction Next? From a price action perspective, though, the Bitcoin price might indeed be due for a retracement. According to the market pundit, Bitcoin recently broke out of an ascending channel resistance on the daily timeframe — a move typical of bullish continuations. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is now showing signs of strain. This is due to recent RSI readings at 67.85, which stands near the overbought region at 70. As such, the Bitcoin market has higher chances of a pullback in the near-term. The analyst then concluded that it would be best to buy Bitcoin “not at this resistance breakout,” but at the bottom of the retracement instead. In the scenario where the Bitcoin price pulls back, the crypto expert explained that this would be towards a “channel support” — specifically at levels between $70,000 and $65,000. As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $77,014, reflecting a 2.8% jump since the past day. Related Reading: 13 Years Of Data Says Bitcoin Price Has Not Bottomed Yet, Analyst Explains The Trend Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView
Kevin Warsh is set to become the first Federal Reserve chair with disclosed crypto holdings, and the first whose policy instincts could still squeeze the sector harder than his predecessors. Most Americans don't follow Fed personnel drama closely, but they feel its aftershocks every month through mortgage rates, savings yields, and the temperature of equity […]
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US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded their largest single-day capital inflow since January on April 17, as the reopening of a critical Middle Eastern shipping route sparked a broader market rotation into risk assets. According to SoSoValue data, the 12 products drew approximately $664 million in fresh capital on April 17. The surge was […]
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Crypto analyst Hanzo has predicted that Bitcoin will rally to a new all-time high (ATH) of $170,000 in the next bull run. He also revealed what level investors should look to buy BTC in this bear market as they target this potential rally to $170,000. Bitcoin To Rally To $170,000 In Next Bull Run In an X post, Hanzo stated that Bitcoin is going to $170,000 and advised investors to buy BTC at $58,000 and sell it at $165,000. His statement suggests that the flagship crypto is likely to bottom out at $58,000 in this bear market. Meanwhile, his accompanying chart showed that BTC could reach $170,000 by 2029, which would mark the peak of the next bull market. Related Reading: This Indicator Used To Predict Bitcoin Bottoms Is Flashing Below $50,000 Meanwhile, it is worth noting that his prediction comes amid a Bitcoin relief rally to as high as $78,000 yesterday, with the flagship crypto reaching its highest level since February. The relief rally came as Iran announced that it has reopened the Strait of Hormuz. The rally also comes amid optimism that the U.S.-Iran war could end soon. However, Hanzo’s prediction indicates that the bear market isn’t over for Bitcoin despite this relief rally and that the flagship crypto is still likely to crash to as low as $58,000 before it bottoms. Crypto analyst Doctor Profit, who called the BTC top last year, also described this recent rally as a bull trap. In an X post, the analyst pointed out that he had previously mentioned that Bitcoin would see a strong bull trap before going down. He added that the next BTC crash will also affect the U.S. stock market and predicted it could happen within the next one to two months. A Correction Is Likely To Happen Sooner Rather Than Later Crypto analyst Colin opined that a Bitcoin correction is likely to happen sooner rather than later. This came as he questioned whether the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will be a sell-the-news event. He added that the market has likely already priced in this event over the last 12 days, which is why BTC’s recovery began earlier. Related Reading: Analyst Reveals The Chances Of Bitcoin Price Crashing Again The analyst also mentioned that Bitcoin is currently at an interesting crossroads as it looks to break out of a descending channel. His accompanying chart showed that BTC will need to break above $78,000 to invalidate the current bearish trend. However, Colin suggested that there is a high likelihood that $78,000 is the local top, with another downtrend on the horizon. At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $77,200, up over 3% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
On April 17th, Bitcoin rose by 2.77%, after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz commercially open for the rest of its 10-day ceasefire with the US. With the market anticipating further upward movement, an on-chain analysis suggests a retracement could be the next event. Related Reading: BREAKING – Bitcoin Breaks $78K As Iran Reopens Strait Of Hormuz On-Chain Metrics Signal Imminent BTC Pullback In a recent QuickTake post on CryptoQuant, on-chain analyst MAC_D outlines a confluence of metrics signaling a possible price retracement. MAC_D highlights that, as Bitcoin grows, readings from the Bitcoin ETF: Daily Change In total Bitcoin Holdings have begun to decline. For context, this metric tracks the daily change in the amount of Bitcoin that flows into Spot Bitcoin ETFs. This, in turn, serves as a gauge of spot demand strength. Given this metric’s downturn, it might signal that spot demand is weakening as well. Furthermore, MAC_D points out the Realized Profit and Loss metric, which measures the total profits or losses actually locked in by investors. According to the analyst, this indicator reached its highest level on April 14th — a level last seen in February — suggesting intense profit-taking. The Bitcoin: Exchange Inflow metric, which tracks the amount of Bitcoin entering the top 10 exchange wallets, also features in this analysis. Recently, large amounts of Bitcoin have been entering exchanges. Per the crypto expert, this suggests that the profits being realized are alongside transfers to exchanges. When a large volume of cryptocurrency (in this case, Bitcoin) is transferred to an exchange, it is typically a sign of incoming sell pressure. This is because transferred tokens are often moved with the intent of being sold, due to increased risk aversion among its investors, or as a result of mere profit-taking. Interestingly, the futures market is also opposing the recent bullish momentum. The analyst reveals that Open Interest across exchanges has begun to diverge from recent highs. Hence, it is apparent that traders are not aggressively leveraging with bullish expectations being their motivation. In other words, the rally is not being strongly supported by speculative activity, which often plays a key role in sustaining extended upward moves. Ultimately, these on-chain signals make it clear that, while the Bitcoin price recently saw an impressive break, it lacks the relevant backing to sustain its growth. Related Reading: XRP Just Settled $291 Million On-Chain, Almost Nothing Hit Binance: Find Out What’s Happening Bitcoin Market Overview As of this writing, Bitcoin is trading at approximately $77,202, up around 3% over the past 24 hours. On a monthly basis, the premier cryptocurrency is also up by roughly 8.47%, according to CoinMarketCap data. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from Tradingview
The Bitcoin (BTC) price has been displaying significant strength in the past few days and marked monthly highs above $78,000. Currently, the price is experiencing significant upward pressure as it plunges below $76,500. The underlying data presents a more complex picture than the price action suggests, as the on-chain and derivatives signals reveal the token …
Altcoin sentiment remains under pressure, and the data backs it. The CMC Altcoin Season Index is currently sitting at 37/100, firmly in Bitcoin season. Just a week ago, it was 34, and a month ago, 53, showing how momentum has faded. Compared to its yearly high of 78, the market is clearly far from an …
XRP has followed the broader rebound in crypto markets as geopolitical conditions appear to be easing. With the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility—however uncertain—of progress toward an end to the Iran–US conflict, risk appetite has improved. In that environment, XRP has surged and briefly pushed toward the $1.51 level on Friday for the first time in almost a month, alongside a set of catalysts that could determine whether the rally gains real momentum—or quickly unwinds. The Timeline That Could Make Or Break XRP In his latest report, market expert Sam Daodu points out that while the near-term outlook for XRP looks promising, it hinges on three dates coming up in the next two weeks. The first factor is tied to the macro story itself: a possible extension of the Iran–US ceasefire. The closest deadline is April 22, when the Iran ceasefire is set to expire. Daodu links the timing of this expiry directly to market risk, arguing that if tensions return and the conflict resumes, the broader crypto market would probably fall again—dragging XRP down with it. Related Reading: Could Bitcoin Hit $90,000 And Trigger A New Altcoin Rally? Expert Cites 6 Major Catalysts The second major date is tied to US regulation, and it is arguably the bigger one for XRP’s longer-term recovery: the CLARITY Act markup that the Senate Banking Committee is targeting for late April. If the CLARITY Act is delayed beyond May, he suggests the bill would likely be shelved until 2027. In that scenario, the expert asserts XRP would lose its biggest remaining catalyst for 2026. The third key date is the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on April 28–29. The Federal Reserve (Fed) is widely expected to hold interest rates at 3.50%–3.75%. Daodu argues that, on its own, the meeting may not move XRP much. The bigger issue is what happens if geopolitical risk and regulatory momentum both disappoint at the same time. If the Iran ceasefire collapses and the CLARITY Act stalls, a hawkish surprise from the Fed would likely worsen conditions. In other words, it is not just each event standing alone; it is the interaction between them that could shape the next phase of the market. Potential Outcomes For The Next Two Weeks Against that backdrop, Daodu offers three price scenarios for XRP, framing them around what happens with the ceasefire, the CLARITY Act, and the broader market over roughly the next two weeks. In his bullish case, XRP could move into a range of $1.50 to $1.90. That would depend on the Senate Banking Committee scheduling the CLARITY Act markup before the end of April and on the Iran ceasefire being extended beyond April 22. Daodu believes XRP could aim for the 200-day moving average near $1.90 by May. Still, he cautions that reaching that point would require sustained ETF inflows and continued strength in Bitcoin (BTC). Related Reading: Circle (CRCL) Sued Over $280M Drift Protocol Hack—What Plaintiffs Claim In a base-case outlook, Daodu forecasts XRP trading between $1.35 and $1.50. This scenario assumes the ceasefire extends past April 22, but the CLARITY Act markup is pushed to May. In the bearish scenario, Daodu sees the altcoin potentially falling into a range of $1.15 to $1.30. This would be triggered if the war resumes after April 22 and oil prices spike above $100 again, which would likely pressure the entire crypto market. In that case, Daodu says a move back below $1.30 becomes more likely. If Bitcoin also breaks down below $70,000 at the same time, XRP could retest the $1.15 support area. At the time of writing, the altcoin is trading at around $1.49, still recording major gains of 10% and 13% over the seven- and fourteen-day periods, respectively. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
A recent report has suggested that the digital assets market has likely entered its “crypto winter” after the sector’s market capitalization and trading volume continued to decline for a second consecutive quarter. Related Reading: Solana-Based Drift Protocol Announces $150M Recovery Fund, New Token Following Tether Collab Crypto Winter Arrives As Volumes Drop On Thursday, CoinGecko affirmed that the market transitioned from a sharp correction to a “sustained” crypto winter in Q1 2026. This shift occurred as the late 2025 bearish momentum collided with the onset of global geopolitical tensions in the first quarter of the year. According to its 2026 Q1 Crypto Industry Report, the total crypto market capitalization dropped around 20.4%, roughly $622 billion, ending the first quarter at $2.4 trillion and marking the second consecutive quarter of decline. This contraction, which accelerated between mid-January and early February, left the market around 45% below its October peak of $4.27 trillion. During this period, daily trading activity also declined by 27.2% Quarter-over-Quarter (QoQ), with an average daily trading volume of $117.8 billion. Meanwhile, spot trading volume on the top 10 centralized exchanges (CEXes), including Binance, MEXC, KuCoin, and Bybit, decreased 39.1% QoQ to $2.7 trillion, seeing a notable decline by the end of Q1. Per CoinGecko data, volumes held above the $1 trillion mark in January, but fell throughout the quarter. With only $0.8 trillion in trading volume, March was the weakest month of Q1, recording the lowest levels since November 2023. While Binance maintained its dominance, with a 37% market share, MEXC was the only other exchange with a double-digit market share in Q1, at 10%. “All top 10 spot CEXes saw trading volume decline in Q1, with drops ranging from -23% to -55%. HTX saw the biggest slump, with its quarterly trading volume dropping to $133.6 billion in 2026 Q1 from $294.4 billion in 2025 Q4. Its market share fell to 4.9%, placing it in #10,” the report added. Majors Decline, Stablecoins Remain Flat Crypto market-wide declines continued in Q1, as majors pulled back for a second consecutive quarter. Bitcoin (BTC) fell 22% during the quarter but outperformed the other top five crypto assets by a narrow margin. However, it continued to underperform other major assets, including Oil, Gold, and the S&P 500. Ethereum (ETH), BNB, XRP, and Solana (SOL) recorded similar drawdowns as Bitcoin, which “weighed heavily on total market capitalization.” Legacy tokens such as Uniswap (UNI) and Chainlink (LINK) also faced continued pressure despite institutional adoption and gaining “digital commodity” status under the SEC-CFTC Joint Interpretive Guidance issued last month. The report noted that relative strength emerged amongst some altcoins after the Q4 2025 sell-off, including Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Bittensor (TAO), which outperformed the broader sector. Related Reading: Bitcoin Double Bottom Formation Eyes $82,500 Rally – Breakout Or Rejection Next? Meanwhile, the total stablecoin market capitalization stayed mostly flat in Q1, seeing a marginal 0.5% increase to end the quarter at $309.9 billion. During this period, Tether’s USDT saw its supply decline 1.6% to $184.1 billion, the first meaningful drop since Q2 2022. Circle’s USDC grew 2.4% to hit $77.1 billion, while Sky’s USDS and WLFI’s USD1 recorded double-digit growth. Nonetheless, stablecoin’s stability despite the challenging landscape for the broader crypto market in Q1 highlighted “the sector’s role as a liquidity anchor,” CoinGecko emphasized. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) saw strong demand on April 17, with about $284 million worth of Bitcoin added as the fund bought thousands of BTC that day. This continued a recent streak of sustained accumulation by institutional investors and helped push total inflows over a multi-day period into the billions of dollars. IBIT’s holdings …
Data shows the Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Gap has edged into the negative territory, a sign that could prove to be bearish for the asset’s price. Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Gap Has Declined Recently As highlighted by CryptoQuant community analyst Maartunn in an X post, the Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Gap has seen a flip for the first time in nine days. The “Coinbase Premium Gap” here refers to an indicator that measures the difference between the BTC price listed on Coinbase (USD pair) and that on Binance (USDT pair). When the value of this metric is positive, it means the cryptocurrency is trading at a higher value on Coinbase than Binance. Such a trend implies users of the former are applying a higher amount of buying pressure or lower amount of selling pressure than the latter’s traders. Related Reading: Bitcoin Rally Stalls As 60,000 BTC From STHs Hits Exchanges On the other hand, the indicator being below the zero mark suggests Binance users are the ones participating in more buying as the asset is going for a higher rate on there. Now, here is the chart shared by Maartunn that shows the trend in the Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Gap over the past month: As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Gap surged to a notable positive level earlier in the week, suggesting that Coinbase users were accumulating. Alongside this rise in the metric, BTC observed a recovery rally. In recent years, the cryptocurrency’s spot value correlating with the Coinbase Premium Gap is something that has often been observed. The reason behind this could be down to the fact that American institutional entities, which prefer to use Coinbase, have lately seen their presence grow in the digital asset sector. From the chart, it’s visible that while the Coinbase Premium Gap shot up earlier, its value has declined to a level just below zero recently. This could indicate that the US whales have dropped their accumulation. Naturally, if a proper drop into the negative zone now occurs, BTC could end up feeling a bearish effect, similar to the pullback from the second half of March. Related Reading: Ethereum Retail Hands Still In Disbelief, Keep Selling Into Strength Though, while this development in the indicator has occurred, Bitcoin has actually surged so far. BTC Breaks Past $76,000 For The First Time Since February Bitcoin furthered its recovery during the last 24 hours as its price approached the $77,000 mark before retracing back to $76,500. A result of this surge has been that more than $209 million in bearish Bitcoin bets have been liquidated over the past day, according to data from CoinGlass. In the cryptocurrency derivatives sector as a whole, over $456 million in short positions have been flushed inside this window. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin’s long-term holder cohort is still expanding, but a key profitability gauge has slipped back below neutral, creating a more cautious read on market structure even as older supply continues to move out of circulation. In an April 17 market note, on-chain analyst Axel Adler Jr. said Bitcoin’s LTH Realized Supply climbed from 5.26 million BTC in January to 8.32 million BTC as of April 16, an increase of 3.06 million BTC in three months. At the same time, LTH SOPR, measured on a seven-day moving average, fell to 0.979 and has now remained below 1.0 for five straight days. Bitcoin Long-Term Holder Data Turns Cautious “The long-term holder cohort continues to expand,” he wrote. “This combination matters: the volume of coins in the LTH cohort is growing, but part of the spent old coins is already exiting at a loss.” In other words, more coins are aging into long-term holder status, but some of the coins that are being spent by that cohort are no longer being sold profitably. The supply side of the equation still looks structurally constructive. Adler said the Bitcoin LTH Realized Supply chart shows “a sharp increase in the volume of coins in the LTH cohort,” rising from 4.16 million BTC to 8.32 million BTC over the past year. He argued that the trend signals “an expansion of long-term holding and a compression of liquid supply,” while also noting that part of the increase reflects existing coins simply maturing into the 155-day threshold rather than fresh purchases alone. Related Reading: This Indicator Used To Predict Bitcoin Bottoms Is Flashing Below $50,000 A rising LTH Realized Supply series does not automatically imply new demand, but it does point to more supply becoming inactive for longer periods. Adler contrasted the current setup with the 2022 bear market, when LTH Realized Supply reached 15.31 million BTC in November before beginning to decline as older coins were spent. For now, he said, the current profile is more consistent with consolidation near $75,000 than with a broad distribution event. The warning sign is coming from holder behavior at the point of sale. Adler described repeated dips in LTH SOPR below 1.0 since February, a sign that long-term holders who are spending coins have periodically been doing so at a loss. The latest reading, 0.979, follows a deeper episode in late March and early April, when the indicator dropped to 0.798 and stayed below 1.0 for seven consecutive days before briefly recovering between April 5 and April 11. Adler stopped short of calling that capitulation. “The current picture is a series of recurring shallow dips below 1.0 with quick recoveries, not a prolonged capitulation,” he wrote. “The key question now is whether the current series will hold above the March lows (0.798) or SOPR will break below them. A repeat move deeper, combined with a simultaneous reversal of Realized Supply downward, is the real red flag for a regime change.” Related Reading: 9 Reasons Why The Bitcoin Bottom May Already Be In: Expert That framing is important because it sets clear conditions for what would turn the current signal from local stress into something more serious. As long as SOPR remains in what Adler described as a shallow-loss zone and rebounds quickly, the implication is short-term pressure rather than a full bearish reset. In the note’s FAQ section, he said such brief dislocations have historically functioned as entry points rather than confirmation of a broader downside impulse. The bearish case, by Adler’s own definition, requires two things to happen together: LTH SOPR staying meaningfully below 1.0 and deepening, while LTH Realized Supply rolls over. That would suggest not just loss realization by old hands, but a broader shift from cohort expansion into active distribution. For now, Adler’s conclusion lands in the middle. The backdrop remains structurally positive because long-term holder supply is still rising, but the fresh loss-selling signal means the market is no longer cleanly constructive. The next move in SOPR, especially relative to the March low, may determine whether this is just another local stress episode or the start of a more meaningful shift in Bitcoin’s holder regime. At press time, BTC traded at $77,880. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin is now printing green candlesticks on the weekly and daily timeframes, and this raises the question of whether the worst has already passed or maybe the floor is still months away. An interesting analysis of Bitcoin’s price action over a multi-year time span pushes back against the growing optimism, pointing to a pattern that has held for more than a decade and suggesting that time, not just price, may still be working against a confirmed bottom. Every Bitcoin Bear Market Has Taken Over A Year To Bottom Going back to 2013, Bitcoin’s bear market cycles have followed a consistent sequence when it comes to the one metric that matters most, which is time. Each Bitcoin bear cycle differed slightly in severity, but the time requirement it took for it to end was surprisingly consistent. Related Reading: Why Did The Bitcoin Price Rally Past $75,000 Despite The US-Iran War? According to a technical chart noted by a crypto analyst that goes by the name Xremin, the bear market in 2024 stretched to around 426 days before a bottom formed. The 2017 cycle followed with roughly 363 days, while the bear market after 2021’s rally took about 376 days to complete. The current cycle, however, is only about 190 days into its correction phase. This is, of course, taking Bitcoin’s peak above $126,000 in October 2025 as the starting point of the bear market correction. That places it at just over half the duration seen in previous cycles. Bitcoin is already down about 43% from that all-time high. However, calling a bottom at this stage, according to the analyst, would mean assuming that Bitcoin has suddenly broken a 13-year pattern without any clear structural change to justify it. Can The Bear Market Already Be In? Calling the bottom at this point in time would mean that this cycle has resolved itself in under half the time it has taken every single previous cycle to find its floor. However, the bull case for an early bottom is not without substance. Market participants with this view could easily argue that the Bitcoin and crypto ecosystem as a whole now has structural dynamics that did not exist in any previous bear market. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bulls Must Hold This Level Or Price Could Crash To $65,000 Again An example is the US Spot Bitcoin ETFs, which now collectively hold approximately 6.5% of Bitcoin’s market cap, the highest being around 10% during the October 2025 peak. Another example is the Department of Labor publishing a proposed rule in March 2026 creating a safe harbor for retirement plan fiduciaries who add crypto to 401(k) menus. These are meaningful developments, and they may well reduce the severity of the eventual drawdown compared to previous cycles. However, they only speak to price depth, not to time. Institutional demand may prevent Bitcoin from falling to as low as $50,000 or $40,000, but it does not automatically hasten the psychological and market-structure process by which a genuine cycle bottom forms. The historically reliable four-year halving cycle suggests a durable bottom may not form until closer to Q4 2026. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com